[SleeperGT]

A few weeks ago a budy of mine and me hit Tamps's Sunshine Raceway (8th of a mile track) as I think we should have very close cars. My car is completely off the "steroids" due to chip and supercharger issues (once I get the car back I'll give the full report on the fixes). I've got an '00 GT, 5-spd and he has a '97 Z28 auto (LT1). The only mods still on my car are a 3.73 rearend gear and 2 1/2 X-pipe exhaust system with MagnoFlows (oh, I also I have Steeda lower control arms). His Z28 has the factory performance rearend (he thinks it's something like a 3.23?), he also has a new exhaust system with no cat, ported MAS and newly installed headers. I'm running BFG drag radials and he has Sumato Street Radials, not sure of the model, but they stick great because he runs very consistent 2.0x 60' times with very little problem with wheel spin.

I figured we would be very close, and man were we ever. Sorry I don't have the exact times because the raceway was tearing the slips in half to keep everyones time a secret (drove me crazy with this). So we run about 6 times for fun and it seems my car has a very slight speed advantage, however his car is much more consistent. I run between 8.7 and 8.9, depending on my 60' and I am always in the 79 mph range (79.2 to 79.8) and he is 8.8 to 8.9 in the 77 to 78 mph range. The Z28 wins 4 of the 6 runs because of the consistency. In order for either of us to win you gotta nail the reaction time and hook up well to win. However, if we both hook up I will always win by a hair, unless I lose the reaction time. It is so close it is great, the entire race is completely driver skill. It also turns out that the right lane gives slightly better traction. So we decide to make it interestings and have a best of three run-off for $20 (I know, we're such big spenders).

So we line up for the first run and you know we've got big money riding on the race because we both redlight! We both know the whole race depends on the reaction time! We restart the series and line up again (oh, by the way I give my buddy lane choice since my car has more potential, and he takes the right lane). So the first race goes down VERY close. We both have strong reaction times, I beat him with a .542 vs .561, my 60' time is slightly better with a 2.0x to a 2.1x AND I have a better end mph, 79.x to 78.x, we fly across the finish line and it is SO close, we both actually think I won, but I lost! I ever so slightly lost traction going into 2nd, but I mean it was just a slight spin, I didn't even have to let off, but I did spin a bit. So anyways, the pressure is now on me for the second race, otherwise I lose 2-0. We line up again and BAM, my buddy redlights! Poor guy hit a .499!! I hit a decent .566 but I just cruise to the finish line in no hurry. Now since I won I get the lane choice and take the right lane. My buddy is a bit freaked by previous red light and cranks a .64x reaction time and I'm lucky and hit a .565. I end up running a low 8.8x at 79.x to his 8.9x at 78.x.

This was some of the most fun racing I have ever done because everything boiled down to reaction and 60' times! Plus the whole Ford Chevy thing played up well at the track.